1. Jim Fawcett CSE681 – Software Modeling and Analysis Fall 2006
C++/CLI
Jim Fawcett
CSE681 – Software Modeling and Analysis
Fall 2006

2. References
C++/CLI
A Design Rationale for C++/CLI, Herb Sutter,
Moving C++ Applications to the Common Language Runtime, Kate Gregory,
C++/CLI FAQ,
C++: Most Powerful Language for .NET Framework Programming, Kenny Kerr,

3. Managed C++ Syntax Include system dlls from the GAC:
#include < System.Data.dll>
#include <mscorlib.dll> - not needed with C++/CLI
Include standard library modules in the usual way:
#include <iostream>
Use scope resolution operator to define namespaces
using namespace System::Text;
Declare .Net value types on stack
Declare .Net reference types as pointers to managed heap
String^ str = gcnew String(”Hello World”);

4. Managed Classes
Syntax: class N { … }; native C++ class ref class R { … }; CLR reference type value class V { … }; CLR value type interface class I { … }; CLR interface type enum class E { … }; CLR enumeration type
N is a standard C++ class. None of the rules have changed.
R is a managed class of reference type. It lives on the managed heap and is referenced by a handle:
R^ rh = gcnew R;
delete rh; [optional: calls destructor which calls Dispose() to release unmanaged resources]
Reference types may also be declared as local variables. They still live on the managed heap, but their destructors are called when the thread of execution leaves the local scope.
V is a managed class of value type. It lives in its scope of declaration.
Value types must be bit-wise copyable. They have no constructors, destructors, or virtual functions.
Value types may be boxed to become objects on the managed heap.
I is a managed interface. You do not declare its methods virtual. You qualify an implementing class’s methods with override (or new if you want to hide the interface’s method).
E is a managed enumeration.
N can hold “values”, handles, and references to managed types.
N can hold values, handles, and references to value types.
N can call methods of managed types.
R can call global functions and members of unmanaged classes without marshaling.
R can hold a pointer to an unmanaged object, but is responsible for creating it on the C++ heap and eventually destroying it.

5. From Kate Gregory’s Presentation see references
Native
Managed
Pointer / Handle * ^
Reference
& %
Allocate
new
gcnew
Free
delete
delete1
Use Native Heap  2
Use Managed Heap  
Use Stack
Verifiability
* and & never
^ and % always
1 Optional 2 Value types only

6. Mixing Pointers and Arrays
Managed classes hold handles to reference types:
ref class R 2{ … private: String^ rStr; };
Managed classes can also hold pointers to native types:
ref class R1 { … private: std::string* pStr; };
Unmanaged classes can hold managed handles to managed types:
class N { … private: gcroot<String^> rStr; };
Using these handles and references they can make calls on each other’s methods.
Managed arrays are declared like this:
Array<String^>^ ssarr = gcnew array<String^>(5);
ssarr[i] = String::Concat(“Number”, i.ToString()); 0<= i <= 4
Managed arrays of value types are declared like this:
array<int>^ strarray = gcnew array<int>(5);
Siarr[i] = i; 0<=i<=4;

7. Type Conversions C++ Type CTS Signed Type CTS Unsigned Type char Sbyte
short int
Int16
UInt16
int, __int32
Int32
UInt32
long int
__int64
Int64
UInt64
float
Single
N/A
double
Double
long double
bool
Boolean

8. Extensions to Standard C++
Managed classes may have the qualifiers:
abstract
sealed
A managed class may have a constructor qualified as static, used to initialize static data members.
Managed classes may have properties:
property int Length { int get() { return _len; } void set(int value) { _len = value; } }
property int Length; // short hand for the declaration above
A managed class may declare a delegate:
delegate void someFunc(int anArg);

9. Managed Exceptions
A C++ exception that has a managed type is a managed exception.
Application defined exceptions are expected to derive from System::Exception.
Managed exceptions may use a finally clause:
try { … } catch(myExcept &me) { … } finally { … }
The finally clause always executes, whether the catch handler was invoked or not.
Only reference types, including boxed value types, can be thrown.

10. Code Targets
An unmanaged C++ program can be compiled to generate managed code using the /clr option.
You can mix managed and unmanaged code using #pragma managed and #pragma unmanged. Metadata will be generated for both.

11. Mixing Managed and Unmanaged Code
You may freely mix unmanaged and managed classes in the same compilation unit.
Managed classes may hold pointers to unmanaged objects.
Unmanaged classes may hold handles to managed objects wrapped in gcroot:
#include <vcclr.h>
Declare: gcroot<System::String^> pStr;
That helps the garbage collector track the pStr pointer.
Calls between the managed and unmanaged domains are more expensive than within either domain.
Note, all of the above means, that you can use .Net Framework Class Libraries with unmanaged code, and you can use the C++ Standard Library (not the STL yet) with managed code.

12. Features Supported (ECMA Std)

13. Limitations of Managed Classes
Generics and Templates are now supported, but STL/CLI has not shipped yet.
Only single inheritance of implementation is allowed.
Managed classes can not inherit from unmanaged classes and vice versa. This is may be a future addition.
No copy constructors or assignment operators are allowed for value types.
Member functions may not have default arguments.
Native types can grant friendship. Managed types cannot.
Const and volatile qualifiers on member functions are currently not allowed.

14. Platform Invocation - PInvoke
Call Win32 API functions like this:
[DllImport(“kernel32.dll”)] extern “C” bool Beep(Int32,Int32);
Where documented signature is: BOOL Beep(DWORD,DWORD)
Can call member functions of an exported class
See Marshaling.cpp, MarshalingLib.h

15. Additions to Managed C++ in VS 2005
Generics
Syntactically like templates but bind at run time
No specializations
Uses constraints to support calling functions on parameter type
Iterators
Support for each construct
Anonymous Methods
Essentially an inline delegate
Partial Types, new to C#, were always a part of C++
Class declarations can be separate from implementation
Now, can parse declaration into parts, packaged in separate files

16. Using Frameworks in MFC from Kate Gregory’s Presentation
Visual C allows you to use new Frameworks libraries in MFC Applications
MFC includes many integration points
MFC views can host Windows Forms controls
Use your own Windows Forms dialog boxes
MFC lets you use Windows Forms as CView
Data exchange and eventing translation handled by MFC
MFC handles command routing
MFC applications will be able to take advantage of current and future libraries directly with ease

17. End of Presentation